There's a big mapping problem that could maybe be solved by selling cars that have plenty of sensor hardware--can figure out curb positions to the inch and all that--but at first only use it for semi-autonomous features (lane assist, auto emergency braking, etc.). As people drive them, they're recording a ton of data that can be sent back to the mothership to build detailed maps will be useful to provide full-autonomous driving later.
Google might effectively pay for the data and field testing they're getting from early users by charging a lower price than you'd ordinarily expect for all that fancy hardware.
I don't know how all this will, in fact, play out; I'm just saying driving assistance and full autonomy don't have to be rival approaches.
Google might effectively pay for the data and field testing they're getting from early users by charging a lower price than you'd ordinarily expect for all that fancy hardware.
I don't know how all this will, in fact, play out; I'm just saying driving assistance and full autonomy don't have to be rival approaches.